US1808850A - Mining machine - Google Patents

Description

June`9, 1931. FQ vA. HoMEwooD 1,808,850

MINING MACHINE Filed June 50, 1928 Patented June 9, 1931 PATENI OFFICE FRED A. HOMEWOOD, OF ROOSEVELT, UTAH MINING- MACHINE v.Application :filed June 30, 1928. Serial No. 289,406.

This invention relates to mining machines particularly adapted for mining asphaltum or ore of hydro-carbon formation such as commonly known as uintahite or gilsonite or similar material which is likely to become sticky when it is heated, although, of course, the machine may be used wherever applicable.

Gilsonite usually occurs in somewhat narrow veins and up to the present time has usually been mined entirely by hand. I have discovered that by cutting channels or kerfs in the vein the material between the kerfs and the side walls may be readily broken down, thereby facilitating the mining operation, and the present invention is particularly intended for this purpose. These veins are usually too irregular and too narrow to permit the use of the ordinary types of mining machines even if they were adapted for this 2o purpose. On account of the nature of the mining the material is usually taken out on a slope, the excavating being done on the top surface of the vein. It may also be noted that electric apparatus is usually not adapted for use in these mines on account of the liability of explosions.

The objects of this invention are to produce a new and improved type of mining machine; to provide a machine for use in mining gilsonite or other similar materials; to provide a new pneumatically operated mining machine having two or more cutters arranged side by side to make parallel cuts and form a relatively wide kerf; to provide a mining machine having two saws arranged on a common axis with means for driving the saws, means for cooling the saws, and means for removing the cuttings and excavated material.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention;

Figure 1 is a side view showing a vertical section of the mine with my improved machine in operating position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side View of the machine with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a plan view also with parts broken away;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the saws showing the cutting operation; and Y Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating a portion of the mine after the cutl has been made. As shown in these drawings, the machine is provided with a frame 6 which may be constructed in any suitable manner but which` is shown as formed of tubing. This frame is provided at the rear end with supporting wheels or castors 7 which are adapted to run on the floor ofthe mine; The rear portion of the frame is also preferably provided with handles 8 for convenience in guiding or moving vthe machine. A shaft 9 is mounted in bearings 10 inthe front end of the frame and carries a hub 11 on which is mounted two saws 12 and 13. Any suitable means may be l provided for driving the saws but in the arrangement shown the hub has a sprocket wheel 14 which is driven by a chain 15 from a sprocket wheel 16 on a countershaft 17 mounted in bearings 18 on the main frame. The countershaft is driven by a sprocket wheel 19 which is engaged by a chain 20 Vdriven 'by means of a sprocket 21 on the drive of, as shown in Figure 2.

A pipe or conveyor 26 extends from a point adjacent to the saws to the rear of the ma-v chine and serves to carry away a portion or all of the material which is loosened by the saws and may also serve as a shoe or bottom pan on which the machine is yslid when the .saws have cut in to their full depth. This conveyor pipe has an opening 27 adjacent to the saws for receiving such material, and

a draft or air current is'provided through the means of a pipe or jet 28 leading from the exhaust pipe 25 and directed backwardly into the pipe Y26 so that it will serve as an kinjector to force the air through thevc'onductor pipe. The material may be discharged from the pipe 26 at the rear of the machine or this pipe may be continued or provided with an extension or hose 29 for carrying the material to any point desired.

EGG

When the machine is to be operated, air is admitted to the engine or motor 23 which causes the same to drive the saws through the driving mechanism, and these saws will cut into the material, as indicated in Figures l and 4, making parallel cuts in the surface thereof. Whileany suitable sized saws or cutters may be used, I have found that saws about sixteen to eighteen inches in diameter placed three fourths of. an inch to one and one quarter inches apart are suitable for this purpose. As the saws cut into thegilsonite, the portion between the saws will crumble or break away so that the resulting kerf will be approximately as wide as the distance betweenthe outer' surfaces of the saws. The cuttings will in part be thrown backwardly and will also be blown back by the air from the exhaust pipe 25 and will be gathered into the mouth 27 of the conductor 26 and carried backwardly to any point desired. The machine is preferably made as light as possible consistent with durability so that it may be readily handled within the narrow confines of the walls of such mines. The exhaust air fromV the engine not only tends to blow the vcuttings back but also serves to cool the saws and prevent their becoming too hot due to the cutting friction. This cooling action is accentuated by the fact that the air is expanding as it comes from the engine, and for this reason has a further cooling action. This prevents the saws from becoming hot, which would be likely to heat the gilsonite to such an extent that it would stick to the saws and thus prevent their proper operation. The countershaft 17 may be provided with between the saws, a combined shoe and discharge pipe carried by the frame and having an inlet opening adjacent to the saws, and a jet pipe leading to the last named pipe.

8. A mining machine of the character set forth, comprising a frame, two relatively thin circular saws rotatably mounted at the front of the frame and spaced sulliciently close together to cause the material between the same to be broken away when the saws are cutting, means carried by the frame for driving the saws, means for forcing air to thesaws to cool the same and pneumatic means for taking away the material, substantially as described.

- FRED A. HOMEWOOD.

one or more drums or Winches 30 which may Y be used in connection with ropes or cables for pulling the machine either in making the cut or withdrawing it from the face.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction or arrangement herein shown and described, except as specified in the following claims, in which I claim: f

l. A machine for mining ore of the character set forth, comprising a frame, a rotary air engine mounted in the frame, means for supplying air to theV engine, a saw mounted in the frame, means for vdriving the saw from the engine, an exhaust pipe leading from the engine to a point adjacent to the saw, a conductor pipe for carrying away the cuttings and a jet from the exhaust to the conductor pipe for forcing air rearwardly through said conductor pipe.

2. A miningmachine of the character set forth, comprising a frame, wheels for supporting said frame, a shaft carried by said frame, a hub on said shaft, a pair of saws mounted on the hub, a sprocket wheel on said hub, an air engine mounted on the frame,

sprocket wheels and chains for driving the vsprocket on the hub from the engine, an exhaust pipe leading from the engine to a point

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